Three days later, on a plain field at Dominic Manor.
Elijah stood there in a snug black suit, accompanied by Miss Amy in her maid outfit. "Why do I have to wear this?" he asked, feeling a tad uncomfortable.
"It's a training suit," she replied. "Before we start your training, we need to finish creating your meridians." Amy had delved into meridian studies to assist Elijah. Understanding their formation, she aimed to guide him in establishing his own, preserving knowledge even if lost, as their bodies retained the information.
"Mastering your chi beforehand will make the training easier," she suggested.
"Could you whip up more food before we begin?" Elijah's stomach rumbled.
"You just ate," she said, taken aback.
"Yes, but now I'm hungry," he admitted weakly.
Sighing, she replied, "You'll eat after the training." Elijah wanted to protest, but a glance from Miss Amy made him reconsider.
"Okay," he relented. Then, considering something, he added, "But creating my meridians will take months, maybe a year, and a large amount of chi."
"That's true," Amy acknowledged, her eyes briefly flashing red as she scanned Elijah's body before returning to normal.
"But I have a plan," she continued. Seeing Elijah's focus, she explained, "Energy can be converted into different forms, including mana. I just need to infuse mana into your body."
"My body has a strange reaction to mana," Elijah scratched his head. "It's mostly rejected and expelled."
"That's because when I healed you three days ago, my mana was expelled, but I still managed to heal you," Amy clarified. "Your body can't contain mana, but I can convert it into chi."
"How?" he inquired.
"I'll infuse mana into your chi core, and you'll convert it into chi," she explained. "This will enhance both the quality and quantity of your chi. However, due to your weak body, the increase in quantity might be limited."
"Quality?" Elijah wondered.
"Yes, mana is a higher-tier energy than chi. By improving the quality of your chi, your techniques will be more powerful, and your growth rate will accelerate," she elaborated.
Elijah, both confused and understanding, pondered for a moment. "Okay, I understand what I need to do," he said finally.
"Good enough," Amy responded. "Sit down, and let's begin." Elijah nodded and closed his eyes.
A stream of mana flowed into his body, moving toward his heart and entering his chi core. Allowing someone to do this was akin to entrusting them with one's life; a mistake could prove fatal. Amy focused intently, her affection for Elijah urging her to ensure his safety.
Elijah concentrated on absorbing the mana, transforming his chi's quality and increasing its quantity. The process became almost automatic, but he remained vigilant, aiming to expedite it.
Taking cues from Elijah's meridian theory and her own studies, Amy guided him. The risk of failure was minimal. His chi core continued to grow, emitting a potent aura.
Eventually, the increase in volume ceased, but the quality continued to improve. Amy instructed Elijah to visualize his chi core as his heart and create pathways akin to veins, circulating chi throughout his body.
Time passed swiftly, a week of relentless effort. Amy sat with Elijah asleep on her lap. "A week, huh," she mused, gently stroking his hair.
"Meat," Elijah muttered in his sleep.
She chuckled softly. "I'll cook something for you, young master," she promised, her smile radiant in the moonlight.